The Secret To Speed Control

control | balance | tactics

Carving Is Not The Best Technique To Use In Moguls If You Want To Control Your Speed

Carving produces increased speed but increased speed is the opposite of what we are looking to achieve in moguls and powder.

Imagine yourself driving down a residential street when you spot a speed bump in the road ahead. What is your reaction? Step on the accelerator ... or put your foot on the brake to slow down?

Speed control in moguls and powder is about doing the polar opposite of carving ... that is to master the skills of a soft edge (analogous to placing your foot on the brake).

What does this mean? It turns out that the use of a "soft edge" is an amazingly effective speed control technique for either groomed runs or off-piste terrain ... but, it is the absolute best, and most effective, speed control technique for moguls and powder.

A "soft edge" is achieved by using less edge angle on the ski ... which when combined with the centrifugal force produced by a turn causes the ski to "drift" or slip sideways (lateral displacement) to the outside of the turn ... which produces increased friction between the ski and the snow ... which reduces speed.

The BUMPS FOR BOOMERS mogul skiing program stresses the advantages of a "soft edge". And, we then take the "soft edge" concept to the next level by introducing a technique that we refer to as a "Precision Drift". This technique provides even better speed control and produces "bull's eye" accuracy for selecting where you want to stop or where you choose to initiate a turn.

Note: for P.S.I.A. terminologists - we consciously use the term "drift" because it is a more customer friendly word to describe a "pivot slip" and also because it implies a positive, desired, intentional move rather than the term "skid" which implies an undesirable, out of control action.